Mont-Saint-Hilaire

城市概覽

Mont-Saint-Hilaire is an important apple-growing region. There is also a significant deposit of the semi-precious mineral sodalite near Mont-Saint-Hilaire.

History At all times in history, the Richelieu River has proven to be a natural nerve centre and cross-border route between the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain in the United States. This legendary valley contains vestiges of the Amerindian era, of commercial or pleasure navigation, as well as wars and skirmishes between Indigenous people, French, British and Americans.

Prehistory

Thousands of artifacts have been found in the Richelieu River Valley, dating from the Amerindian era, reaching its peak 21,000 years ago. Following the arrival of Europeans in America, the way of life of the Indigenous people was transformed, at first mainly thanks to the metal tools imported from Europe.

Colonization The first map of the region was drawn by Samuel de Champlain in 1609. The town of Sorel was founded in 1642. In 1665, the Chambly road was laid out between the towns of Chambly and Longueuil by the troops of the Régiment de Carignan-Salières; it is the first motorable road in Canada. The construction of the Saint-Ours canal (1843) and the Chambly canal (1849) proved to be a significant lever for Canada-United States cross-border trade via the Richelieu, over more than 100 years. At the end of the 19th century, the railways supplanted river transport on the Richelieu. Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville was granted lordship over the region in 1694. By 1745 a mountain village had been formed with the first chapel being built in 1798 near the Richelieu River. In 1822, a ferry operating between Beloeil and Mont-Saint-Hilaire came into service. A bridge, enabling Beloeil and St. Hilaire to be connected by rail, was built in 1848 by the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway. The Campbell family, owners of the mountain after that of Rouville, sold the mountain to a British officer, Brigadier-General Andrew Gault, in whose own

如何抵達

By car Autoroute 20, a freeway, passes along the northern side of the Mont-Saint-Hilaire. Autoroute 20 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway between Longueuil and Rivière-du-Loup.

From Montréal (35 km, time: 44 min. Take the Jacques-Cartier bridge (southbound); take boulevard Taschereau (westbound); take route 116 (eastbound) to the village of Saint-Hilaire. From Quebec (220 km, time: 2 hr 16 min). Take Autoroute 20 (westbound) up to Saint-Hilaire; take Grande-Allée (westbound); take the 116 (westbound).

By train Mont-Saint-Hilaire is served by the Mont-Saint-Hilaire commuter rail station on the Réseau de transport métropolitain's (RTM) Mont-Saint-Hilaire line. To get there from Montreal if you do not have a car, the easiest approach is to take the AMT commuter trains from Montreal's Gare Centrale (Central Station). Prices and timetables can be found here, and it should cost around $8 each way. As the local train station is 4-5 km from the trailhead, the most effective means to get there is to hitchhike or take a taxi.

By bus EXO serves the municipalities/cities of the Richelieu valley, in particular (nearby) Otterburn Park, McMasterville, St-Hyacinthe, Beloeil, and Mont-Saint-Hilaire. See the website for schedules.

當地交通

Local bus service is provided by the RTM's Vallée du Richelieu sector.

必看景點

1 Ciné-Parc Saint-Hilaire, 800, chemin du Ciné Parc, ☏ +1 450-467-0402, [email protected]. Outdoor cinema park. (updated Feb 2022)

2 Domaine Ozias Leduc, 272 chemin Ozias-Leduc, ☏ +1 450-536-3033, [email protected]. Ozias Leduc (1864-1955) was a prolific church decorator and easel painter. This nationally renowned artist exerted a significant influence on Quebec and Canadian painting of the 20th century, notably with Paul-Émile Borduas and Jean-Paul Riopelle. (updated Feb 2022) 3 La Maison amérindienne (The First Nations House), 510, Montée des Trente, ☏ +1 450-464-2500, [email protected]. The museum is a place of exchange, sharing and rapprochement. Its mission is to make the First Nations better known (including their knowledge and know-how) through museum, environmental and gastronomic activities. (updated Feb 2022) 4 Le Musée des beaux-arts de Mont-Saint-Hilaire, 150 Rue du Centre Civique, ☏ +1 450-536-3033. General $6, seniors and students $5, children (6 to 12 years old) $4, children (0 to 5 years old) free, family (two adults and two children) $16. The major art museum on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. It was founded in 1993 to promote the work of regional artists Jordi Bonet, Paul-Émile Borduas and Ozias Leduc. The museum includes the houses of Borduas and Leduc, which can be visited. Exhibitions are art from the area, and other Quebec artists such as Jean-Paul Lemieux and Nancy Petry. (updated Dec 2018) 5 Eglise Saint-Hilaire (Saint-Hilaire Church), 260 Chemin des Patriotes Nord, ☏ +1 450-467-4434. Church facing the Richelieu River. (updated Dec 2018) Patrimoine Hilairemontais, ☏ +1 438-777-7958. In the summer, it offers guided tours of the works of Ozias Leduc in Saint-Hilaire church. (updated Feb 2022) 6 Cimetière de Mont-Saint-Hilaire (Mont-Saint-Hilaire Cemetery), rue Désaultels. Catholic cemetery. (updated Feb 2022) 7 Église de Jésus-Christ des Saints des derniers jours (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), 955,

體驗活動

1 McGill University's Gault Nature Reserve (Centre de la Nature Mont Saint-Hilaire), 422, chemin des Moulins, ☏ +1 450-467-4010, [email protected]. 8AM-4PM. One of Canada's UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the nature reserve protects over a thousand hectares of primeval forest on Mount Saint-Hilaire. The western half of the nature reserve is open for hiking and cross-country skiing. Equipment rentals are available. $9.25 (adults), additional $5.25 for cross-country skiing. (updated Jan 2023)

購物

Foods 1 Maxi, 345, boulevard Honorius-Charbonneau, ☏ +1 450-464-9848. General grocery store. (updated Feb 2022) 2 Metro Plus Riendeau St-Hilaire, 345, boulevard Honorius-Charbonneau, ☏ +1 450-467-8977. General grocery store. (updated Feb 2022)

Specialized food stores 3 Boulangerie Le Pain Dans Les Voiles (Bakery Le Pain Dans Les Voiles), 250, rue St-Georges, ☏ +1 450-281-0779. Boulangerie, café. (updated Feb 2022) 4 Chocolat Favoris (Chocolate Favorites), 77, boulevard Sir Wilfrid-Laurier, ☏ +1 450-339-3956. Shop offering chocolate products, including cocktail boxes. Online Store. Collection in chocolate factory, home delivery. (updated Feb 2022) 5 Les Aliments Naturels L'Eau Vive inc, 248, rue St-Georges, ☏ +1 450-464-5767. (updated Feb 2022) 6 SAQ, 460, boulevard Sir Wilfrid-Laurier, ☏ +1 450-464-3236. Liquor store. (updated Feb 2022) 7 Tite Frette - Mont-St-Hilaire, 620, boulevard Sir Wilfrid-Laurier, ☏ +1 450-446-6464. Beer store. (updated Feb 2022)

Agrotourism 8 Alpagas du Domaine Poissant inc (Alpacas from Domaine Poissant inc), 1235, chemin de la Montagne, ☏ +1 514-316-5975. Shop open year round.. Main activities: guided tour of the farm. Walk with alpaca(s),